I have decided to start a new tradition this year...feeding the wild birds at Christmas. We love finding new ways to connect with nature. Whether it is through reading books that connect kids with nature or making really cool bird feeders. So, caring for birds over the holidays seems like a nice idea.
Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Pagefor more details.
As you probably already know, we live in Toronto and we live on a busy street corner. You might think that we don't get many birds in our tiny urban yard, but we do. Thanks to the Virginia Creeper that is growing up the street light post in our front yard we have dozens of birds in our yard from spring until fall. This vine provides the birds with a perfect spot to build their homes in the spring and grow their families. We were able to watch small birds learn to fly.
In the fall, the vine is covered with tiny berries that attract all sorts of birds. Now that the cold weather has moved in the leaves are gone and so are our birds.
We know the birds are out there somewhere. This year I thought we would give the birds a little treat for Christmas. We know that as the cold weather rolls in, food is becoming more scarce and our local birds deserve a festive meal during the holidays. Popcorn!
Can Birds Eat Popcorn?
Yes! Birds can eat popcorn. However, do not use microwave popcorn. Microwave popcorn is filled with fats and chemicals that can harm birds as they cannot properly digest it. You need to use plain popcorn. Plain, air-popped popcorn is best for birds (and squirrels too). No added salt or butter.
Is Popcorn Good for Birds?
Popcorn is a treat for humans and a treat for birds too. It should never be a main source of food. While it is safe for birds, it lacks any real vitamins or nutrients...so it's safe but not great as their main food source. This is why we will only make a few garlands and hang them as a special Christmas treat. If you want to feed your local birds more often, check out all of our amazing bird feeder ideas and learn all about how to feed wild birds wherever you live.
We don't own a microwave, so we have perfected the stovetop popcorn technique. We popped our popcorn in a pot, on our stovetop, using 2 tablespoon vegetable oil and ⅓ cup corn kernels.
Keep the lid on the pot...leaving a little gap for the steam to escape. As it begins to pop, shake the pot. I wear oven mitts on my hands to make popcorn. When the popping slows down, turn the heat off and the last few remaining kernels will pop.
Take off the lid and ta-da! You have a pot full of fluffy popcorn! Remember DO NOT ADD SALT OR BUTTER!
Now it's time to string the popcorn garland. For this next step, you'll need your sewing supplies. We used a large needle - an embroidery needle works perfectly for kid hands.
Feed a long strand of cotton string onto the needle...you will want to have a length of string that will wrap around your tree. Using 100% cotton string means that it will not contain any synthetic materials if the animals snap off a piece and eat it...or use it to make their nests in the spring.
We decided to make a few short garlands, longer garlands and loops of popcorn strands to place on our tree. Stringing the popcorn on the string is pretty easy. You want to poke the needle into the fattest part of the popcorn. Slide the piece of popcorn along the thread and then feed the next piece on the thread. One by one you will build your popcorn garland.
When we reached the end of the string, we left a long loop, that we could use to hang the strand to the tree. Simply tie a knot and the strand is done. This loop of popcorn hangs like an ornament in the tree.
For a traditional garland, just keep adding popcorn to the string. You could even mix in fresh cranberries if you like. Again, be sure to only add fresh cranberries that don't have any sugar added. Organic cranberries are the best option for the birds.
We made shorter popcorn strands and some long garlands to hang on our tree on Christmas Eve. To which my daughter inquired if the reindeer might eat the popcorn. Why not! Let's face it, these popcorn treats will be enjoyed by all of our local wildlife...squirrels, raccoons (who really should be hibernating right now), birds, and reindeer.
Jen Farr is a mother living in Toronto, Canada. She has been sharing her DIY crafts, recipes, activities and parenting advice for over 15 years on her blog Kitchen Counter Chronicle. Jen is the mom of 2 lovely daughters. She believes in the power of taking small steps that can make big impacts on the world.
Comments
RedTedArtsays
Lovely to make popcorn for the birds. Such a great activity for kids!
Hey Jen, Another bird friendly tip that my mom does every year is putting the Christmas tree out next to her feeder (provided it's real of course) for a few weeks to give them a new perch and hiding spot to have fun in! With the cold weather it tends to stay green for quite awhile.
RedTedArt says
Lovely to make popcorn for the birds. Such a great activity for kids!
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Amanda says
Hey Jen,
Another bird friendly tip that my mom does every year is putting the Christmas tree out next to her feeder (provided it's real of course) for a few weeks to give them a new perch and hiding spot to have fun in! With the cold weather it tends to stay green for quite awhile.